Transportationtransportation City of Elmhurst Comprehensive Plan TransporTATion Elmhurst’s transportation system consists of an extensive roadway network, including direct access to Interstate High- ways I-290, I-294, and I-88, an extensive commuter rail and bus transit system, as well as a well-connected pedestrian and bike network. This transportation network allows for easy and accessible travel within the City and excellent con- nections to the surrounding metropolitan area. Elmhurst’s interstate highway and commuter rail access are among its strongest assets, making it a very desirable community for living and conducting business. Therefore, maintain- ing a well-functioning and efficient transportation system is critical to sustaining the high quality-of-life in the com- munity. A review of existing conditions, including average daily traffic and transit ridership history, formed the basis for the development of the transportation framework and functional street classification. Through this analysis, pri- Commuter and freight rail tracks ority improvement areas were identified, as well as general improvements or suggestions to manage population and employment growth, relative to a functional and efficient 8. Improve wayfinding signage throughout the city to aid transportation system. This section provides an overview pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in locating and of the transportation network in Elmhurst and offers some accessing key community facilities. recommendations to sustain and strengthen community mobility. Goal 2: Maintain and determine adequate parking facilities to serve land uses throughout the city. Goals AND OBJECTIVES Objectives: Goal 1: Continue to enhance mobility within the City by 1. Actively monitor, manage and address on-street and effectively managing local traffic issues and anticipating the off-street parking needs within the city to ensure ad- impact of future development on current traffic patterns. equate and conveniently located parking to serve all current and future land uses. Objectives: 2. Pursue opportunities for the reconfiguration of off- 1. Minimize regional (non-local) and commercial traf- street parking lots, structures and the establishment of fic through single-family residential neighborhoods in shared parking agreements to meet parking demands Elmhurst. within neighborhood commercial areas in a coordi- 2. Manage traffic growth on streets functionally classified nated and efficient manner. as local or collector, and on sensitive arterials (narrow right-of-way and fronting residential uses) through Goal 3: Leverage existing mass transit systems (Metra and traffic calming measures. Pace) to encourage transit-oriented development and inter- 3. Utilize the City’s Functional Classification Map of City modal connections. streets for Elmhurst as the basis for traffic control and regulatory signing, land use and access control and Objectives: overall street design. 1. Implement the Downtown Plan (2006), which rec- 4. Ensure adequate road surface conditions to accommo- ommends a transit-supportive development program date required traffic volumes. around Elmhurst’s Metra commuter station. 5. Ensure adequate capacity and safe design of street in- 2. Implement infrastructure improvements, such as land- tersections and interchanges. scaping, street furniture, and bus stop enclosures, in 6. Continue to provide adequate street lighting in order order to encourage transit usage throughout the city. to minimize potential traffic conflicts. 3. Explore Pace bus routing improvements to more com- 7. Ensure adequate resources for the improvement and pletely serve residents and commuters using the Metra maintenance of streets and public rights-of-way in the station, as well as improve routing of Pace bus service city. between major economic activity areas within and sur- rounding Elmhurst. City of Elmhurst 46 Comprehensive Plan T RANSPOR 4. Encourage the development of the bicycle and pedes- trian systems in a manner which complements and supports public transportation access. T A 5. Work cooperatively with Pace, Metra, and other agen- T cies to assess and respond to evolving transit user ION needs in the city. 4 Goal 4: Provide safe and convenient transportation alter- natives. Objectives: 1. Encourage and provide alternatives to the single-oc- cupant automobile, including carpooling, walking and biking throughout the city. 2. Provide parking incentives for carpooling or utilizing alternate fuel vehicles. 3. Provide a continuous network of sidewalks and safe crosswalks throughout the city to improve pedestrian safety and encourage walking. 4. Seek to create a well-connected network of on-street/ off-street bicycle paths to improve bicycle access throughout the city, including provision for bicycle parking. A network of interstate highways surround Elmhurst 5. Pursue opportunities with neighboring communities including new traffic calming measures if necessary. and agencies to create pedestrian and bicycle connec- 6. The design of the overall street system should continue tions to nearby trails and recreational areas. to encourage the development of complete streets. 6. Seek to improve pedestrian comfort and safety along 7. Encourage increased Metra ridership through parking major thoroughfares and at busy intersections, in par- accommodation, access management and transit-ori- ticular near schools, parks and commercial areas. ented development surrounding the station. 8. Encourage the continuation and expansion of Pace Policies bus service in the city. The following policies provide a framework for guiding the 9. Provide options for alternative modes of transporta- creation and implementation of transportation strategies. tion in the city, including bicycles, pedestrians and transit, as well as incentives for carpooling and alter- 1. Maintain the street grid network and improve and native fuel vehicle usage. develop bicycle and pedestrian access throughout 10. Consolidate access in large parking areas, including Elmhurst. cross-easements in shopping centers and reduced curb 2. Provide the opportunity to upgrade and improve local cuts to major arterial roadways. substandard streets to a minimum standard, including curb, gutter and drainage infrastructure. FUncTional STREET ClassificaTion 3. Seek to maximize the contributions by state, federal and other agencies toward the costs of major road- way improvements in the city, including the CREATE Functional classification of all City streets is a necessary (Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation step in determining the needs of future improvements Efficiency) program to assist in funding railroad traf- to existing streets and appropriate land uses. Functional fic mitigation measures and START (Solutions To Area classification identifies the purpose of the street, such as Rail Traffic) to address regional rail congestion mea- whether it is to provide local access in residential neighbor- sures. hoods or to move traffic through the community to other 4. Anticipate measures likely needed to reduce traffic parts of the community. A functional classification of the congestion through Elmhurst due to the proposed roadways within and around Elmhurst is presented in Ta- O’Hare Western Access. ble 1: Functional Street Classification System and graphi- 5. The design of the overall street system should continue cally illustrated in Figure 14: Functional Street Classifica- to discourage cut-through traffic in residential areas, tion System. City of Elmhurst 47 Comprehensive Plan Table 1: Functional Street Classification System TABLE 4: FUNCTIONAL STREET CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAP KEY FUNCTIONAL STREET CLASSIFICATION ROADWAY JURISDICTION Expressways: Expressways are limited access facilities serving Interstate 290 IDOT intra-regional and interstate trips. Access is provided generally Interstate 294 Illinois Tollway through interchanges however, some facilities might also have Interstate 88 Illinois Tollway at-grade intersections. Speed limits can vary from 55 to 65 miles IDOT per hour; the Average Daily Traffic volume (ADT) is over 40,000 IDOT vehicles. Principal Arterials: Principal arterials serve mainly intra-region- Lake Street (US 20) IDOT al trips. While these facilities are meant to carry through traffic, North Avenue (IL 64) IDOT they can also provide access to major developments. A high level Kingery Highway (IL 83) of access control should be applied for these roadways. Speed Roosevelt Road (IL 38) limits are typically in the 40-55 miles/hour range but in more in- tensely developed areas, could be 35 miles/hour or less. Minor Arterials: Minor arterials are intended primarily for trips Grand Avenue County between neighboring communities and within the community. York Street County These roadways are also primarily through traffic carriers but St. Charles Road City provide a much greater local access function than primary arteri- Butterfield Road (IL 56) IDOT als. Speed limits can vary from 35-45 miles/hour or lower in more developed areas. Community Collectors: Community collectors serve trips with- West Avenue City in the community and to a lesser extent between adjacent com- Spring Road City munities. Their primary function is to collect trips from the minor Poplar Avenue City collector and local roadways and provide access to the arterial Vallette Street City streets. Access control should be low to moderate. Michigan Street City County Line Road City Subdivision Collectors: These roadways are used to access different neighborhoods within